AAEA is an environmental organization founded in 1985 that is dedicated to protecting the environment, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting the efficient use of natural resources, increasing African American participation in the environmental movement and promoting ownership of energy infrastructure and resources. We resolve environmental problems through the application of practical environmental solutions.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Nikki Henderson has been named the new Executive Director of Green For All.

Henderson began her work in social justice through the foster care system in Southern California, having been raised with seven older foster brothers. Through mentoring, tutoring, and directing Foster Youth Empowerment Workshops, she developed her passion for youth leadership development among communities of color.

She later shifted into sustainability, developing course curriculum for the University of California system and advocating across the state for environmental justice and political ecology.

She has worked at Green for All fighting for a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. She was also a part of Slow Food USA in Brooklyn, NY. In 2009, Nikki co-founded Live Real, a national collaborative of food movement organizations committed to strengthening and expanding the youth food movement in the United States. In 2010, Nikki was featured in ELLE magazine as one of the five Gold Awardees.

She has a Master’s degree in African American Studies from UCLA, and is originally from Los Angeles, CA. (People's Grocery)

Friday, November 22, 2013

As an important supporter and partner, I wanted to personally share the news that I’ll be leaving Green For All early next year to take time to be with my daughter and family; and, to focus on new strategies for social change.

Moving on wouldn’t be possible were it not for the incredible leadership of our board of directors, who have selected a dynamic new leader to take Green for All into its future. Her name is Nikki Henderson.

Nikki has a strong background in economic justice. As executive director of People’s Grocery in Oakland, she created a groundbreaking leadership development and micro-business program for food entrepreneurs, with a focus on racial justice. Nikki’s thought leadership has been widely recognized at venues like the United Nations, TEDx, and Bioneers. In 2010, she was honored with one of ELLE magazine’s five Gold Awards for young influencers.

Nikki worked closely with Van Jones and me in the early years of Green For All, and we were deeply impressed—both by her commitment to our issues and by her natural leadership abilities.

Most importantly, I believe Nikki is exactly the right leader at the right time for Green For All. The organization is ready for its next phase, and I believe there’s no better person to drive it. Nikki will invigorate and excite our base, bring new insights to our work, and create high-impact results.

Nikki will start with Green For All on February 1, 2014. In the months leading up to her official start date, she will be working closely with our board and staff on our work planning process, and will be ready to hit the ground running in February.

I know Green For All will be in excellent hands under Nikki, and I’m excited and confident about what we will accomplish in the coming months and years.

My decision to leave an organization and cause that I love wasn’t an easy one. But I feel that I can move on knowing that our new leadership and staff—working closely with partners like you—will take the work forward.

I greatly appreciate your partnership. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the people that I have had the opportunity to work with. Your commitment and belief in a better world inspire me to be more. Being at Green for All has made it clear to me that we are surrounded by incredible grace and love. I want to have time to share those things with my young daughter. I am not leaving forever. Instead, I am taking a pause to recharge. I will be watching, supporting and helping, whenever needed.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Wal-Mart is a proposing store site in Prince George's County, Maryland that would be located on Oxon Hill Road close to the National Harbor resort.
The Wal-Mart would have a full-size grocery store and would bring 300 jobs to southern Prince George’s.

The store has generated some controversy because it would be right next to the Montessori school.
Wal-Mart officials said the center will provide a significant landscaping buffer between the store and the Montessori school. Also, parents from John Hanson and Oxon Hill High School, a few blocks away, have rallied against the proposal, expressing concern about security and the environmental impact on the school community.

AAEA is studying the proposal.

The project is being reviewed by the county’s planning department. The case is expected to be heard early next year by the county’s zoning hearing examiner. (Wash Post, 11/17/2013)

Saturday, November 16, 2013

This interactive map, compiled by NPR and CPI, shows serious polluters across America that release hazardous chemicals — including lead, mercury and arsenic — into the air or water.

Enter your zip code or click on the map at NPR.com and get information about polluters in your state.

About this map
To begin exploring how air pollution may affect your community, use this interactive map of more than 17,000 facilities that have emitted hazardous chemicals into the air. Color-coded dots and scores of one to five smoke stacks are based on an EPA method of assessing potential health risk in airborne toxins from a given facility. More smoke stack icons signify higher potential risks to human health. Zoom in to your neighborhood by clicking on the map or use the search box to find the area you're looking for. (Reporting methodology and data)

About the dataLast year reporting to TRI: Indicates the latest year, from 2003 through 2009, that the facility reported air emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The TRI consists of self-reported data on emissions of more than 600 chemicals. Our database includes facilities that reported emissions of any of 187 specific chemicals the Environmental Protection Agency is required to control.

High-priority violator status: This indicates that regulators have listed the facility as a "high priority violator" under the Clean Air Act. That means the EPA or a responsible state or local agency has information it can use to establish a violation of the Clean Air Act. The agency may or may not have made a formal finding of violation.

Risk-screening group: A ranked grouping from 1 to 5, based on a multi-year average of risk screening scores from the EPA’s Risk Screening Environmental Risk Indicators tool. The tool addresses chronic human toxicity associated with long-term exposure to harmful chemicals. More information about the tool.